At a Northfield Historical Society holiday gathering at the Upstairs Rueb last night, Executive Director Hayes Scriven and Earl Weinmann presented the 2011 NHS MVPosse Tour Guide award to Heather Scott.
I asked Earl for the text of his remarks about Heather. Here’s the transcript:
When I first met this year’s Most Valuable Posse recipient it was early in April during the first Adult Posse training session. By the time the training sessions ended, I knew it was a uniquely talented and unselfish member we were welcoming into our ranks.
The level of commitment that they brought to creating a personalized tour was inspirational. This person looked the part, acted the part, and took visitors on a wonderful journey back in time. But it went far beyond that. In gaining an Adult Posse Member we also received an excellent ambassador for the Historical Society.
There was hardly a Northfield Historical Society event – at least none that I can remember – where this person wasn’t volunteering their time; be it at the annual meeting, during a presentation at the Historical Society, Cemetery Stories, Defeat Days or any function that would further the mission of NHS. The only downside I experienced in knowing this person was the feeling of guilt that I, in comparison, wasn’t doing enough for the society.
I was trying to find a befitting way to end this introduction, one that would express our appreciation. It was given to me today when I talked to her mother on the phone. When she learned that her daughter would receive this award, one of her first comments was "Her father, Ted, would have been so proud of her. "
It is my honor to introduce to you our 2012 Most Valuable Posse Member, the great granddaughter of Dr. D. J. Whiting and the daughter of one of our founders, Mr. Ted Scott. Please join me in congratulating Miss Heather Scott.
This year the two organizations are introducing a James-Younger 1876 Rye Ale, also complete with its own Facebook page. Some members of the James-Younger gang were reportedly intoxicated during their bungled robbery attempt on that fateful day in 1876, so it’s especially fitting that:
A special preview of the beer will be made available during the Northfield Historical Society’s Outlaw Run motorcycle rally on August 27.
Hopefully, Outlaw Run participants will drink responsibly (for me on a motorcycle, that means non-alcoholic beer) and no one will bungle their ride.
But let’s give props to both the Northfield Historical Society and the DJJD committee for increasingly finding more ways for people celebrate the true fun part of DJJD: mayhem! And no, I’m not being sarcastic.
Update 8/26:
More progress: The new line of shirts on sale at the Northfield Historical SocietyRare Pair don’t use the word ‘defeat’ at all, just the phrase “Jesse James Days.”
I’m nearing completion of proofreading and editing the latest work by my 8th grade SCOPE students. As a result of the past two years of research and writing, selected eighth grade students have written a book about the history of Northfield.
This book (which will be published this fall) will be used as a textbook in the Northfield area elementary schools. We have 42 chapters that go back to before Northfield was a town to projections about the future of Northfield. In each chapter we have interesting tidbits or trivia in little boxes to accompany the text.
I’m writing to you because, in writing the chapter on the history of Northfield Medical Care, my students had difficulty finding any "fun facts" to go with the text. I was thinking that perhaps I could use Locally Grown to solicit long-time residents to contribute a "home remedy" that they were administered as a child growing up here (we talk about the reliance of home remedies in early medical history). The idea is, hopefully, to have your contributors jot down a few of the more interesting remedies they were "subjected" to that we could include in the Medical History chapter.
I want to get this to the layout artist by September…so time is limited…but I thought it might be a fun for students to read what the locals had to do in the hopes of "curing" an illness or malady. Of course, it must be made clear that what they contribute would be subject to this publication. I would like to use their names as well, unless they have an objection. If you think this sort of inquiry is an appropriate use of your blog, please feel free to submit this appeal on your site.
The Northfield Historical Society held a Scriver Building renovation open house last night. Special recognition awards were given to past Board President Debby Larsen, current Board president Scott Richardson, and "Next Level" campaign co-chairs Brett and Michelle Reese.
The society also recognized its volunteers of the year, Rachel Wadleigh and Kathy Peterson.
See my album of 43 photos (I’ve added some renovation photos taken/blogged here, here, and here earlier this week), view the large slideshow (recommended), or SLOW CLICK this small slideshow:
Hayes Scriven told me that Gene Jasnoch of Jasnoch Construction donated the wood (red elm and walnut) and that he and his father-in-law, Steve Wille of Nerstrand Custom Cabinets, built it in their spare time.
The inlaid squares on the four corners are stone, taken from the walls of the Scriver Building.
Hayes Scriven invited me to witness Bridgette from Graphic Mailbox do the installation of a ‘public restrooms inside’ sign on the door of the Northfield Historical Society this morning.
When that happens, like Dr. Humphrey C. Cornholt, it will give me "great pleasure to be able to release all that I’ve been holding inside me for so long."
Hayes quickly pointed out the new men’s urinal to me, knowing my reputation. I was relieved. He said he was placing the order today for a public restroom sign that will appear in one of the window panes of the exterior door (right photo).
Who is Maggie Lee? See this NHS oral history of Maggie Lee in which she "talks about her life in Northfield and why the color purple is so important to her."
A crew of Northfield Historical Society board members, staff, and volunteers took on a nasty task this morning, cleaning out the demolition debris from a second floor office of the Scriver Building. Their efforts saved the Taking Northfield to the Next Level campaign $9,000 in renovation costs.
Among the crew: NHS Board members Debby Larsen, Scott Richardson, Jodi Lawson, and Heather Scott; store manager Chip DeMann; and Brad Ness, former DJJD chair and most recently, Lena’s main squeeze, Ole.
This spring, St. Dominic parish will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of their church. Nearly forgotten is the old church and the tumultuous debate that preceded its ultimate demolition in the Fall of 1985. Tradition-minded parishioners joined with preservationists in the community to try to save the old church building. The contest attracted letters to the editor of the Northfield News from around the country, and newspaper articles in the Faribault Daily News and the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
With the help of Hayes Scriven and the Northfield Historical Society, I have assembled a handful of photos that perhaps explain why so many were so attached to the lovely old red-brick building. More photos and analysis of the episode available on my blog.
So I wanted to look into how they work. I found out they are really easy, so I did this one for our capital campaign. Now, that I know how easy they are I am going to do a few more for other areas of the museum.
Hayes attached a camera phone photo of a Next Level campaign flyer (with QR code on it) in the window of the NHS. I aimed my smartphone at the image attachment on my PC and within 5 seconds (photo above right), a YouTube video started to play, Taking Northfield History to the Next Level, featuring Corrine and Elvin Heiberg.
The Northfield Historical Society (NHS) is adding an elevator to the building that will allow for ADA access to all three levels of the building. This project will also include the addition of six (6) ADA compliant restrooms that will be open to the public. The demand for more public restrooms is particularly important during community events in the Downtown Business District… The Northfield Historical Society’s request to the City is for $60,000.00 from the Master Development/TIF District #4 Fund. The overall project budget is currently budgeted for $700,000.00. The restroom phase of the project will cost $175,000. This project is scheduled to be completed by January 2011.
The owner of the Archer House, Brett Reese, is co-chair of the NHS Next Level Campaign, and will be speaking to the Council tonight on the NHS request.
I support the loan but I think the Council should stipulate that NHS publicize the existence of the public restrooms on the exterior of the Scriver Building, and, retroactively, the Archer House.
The two trees in front of the Northfield Historial Society’s Scriver Building have been cut down (sob!). It looks so bare now from Bridge Square.
But there is now a huge Taking History to the Next Level fundraising banner hanging on the Division St side of the building. For construction updates, see:
Northfield Historical Society muckety mucks held a ground-breaking ceremony late yesterday afternoon in front of the Scriver Building, marking the start of the NHS ‘accessibility project,’ primarily the addition of an elevator and restrooms. Ray Cox and Craig Vold of Northfield Construction Company were on hand to show everyone how to hold a shovel.
At a holiday gathering at the Upstairs Rueb last night, Earl Weinmann announced that the Northfield Historical Society‘s MVPosse Tour Guide award for 2010 goes to Judy Boehme. NHS ED Hayes Scriven and Christian Hakala ("the sheriff" of the Adult Posse program) made the presentation.
By Bridgette Hallcock, on December 6, 2010, 9:09 pm
While strolling through the luminary lit streets of downtown Northfield during this week’s Winter Walk, make sure to stop in the Northfield Historical Society for free photographs with the James Younger Gang.
This is a free event, so stop in, warm up, and have some fun with the James-Younger Gang, Defeat of Jesse James Days committee members, and the fine folks at the Northfield Historical Society.
See you there!
===
Editor’s Note: I’ve added my photos of Bridgette doing her thing during last year’s Winter Walk. Her photos of people with the James Younger Gang are waaaay better. – Griff
There’s lots happening at the Northfield Historical Society these days. So we’re hosting a webinar with NHS Executive Director Hayes Scriven on Monday, Sep. 27, 3-4 PM to learn all about it, including:
The Northfield Historical Society is recommending that the two ash trees (see photo above with red arrows) in front of the Scriver Building (its headquarters and museum) be removed.
The issue was on the agenda at last week’s Council meeting. See p. 42-52 of the July 20 packet (PDF). From the packet:
NHS is initiating a project to increase the accessibility of the Scriver Building by installing an elevator in the alley behind the stair tower that opens onto Bridge Square. The elevator will provide ADA access to all three levels of the building. Currently the accessible entrance to the building is off of Division Street. However, this enters into the Museum proper and does not allow access to other floors of the building.
To make the elevator ADA accessible they are proposing to use half of the sidewalk in front of the building to construct a ramp to allow access to the elevator from the stair well. Other options were explored but were not feasible due to physical constraints of the building. Drawings showing the proposal are attached. Currently the sidewalk in this location is about 12 feet wide. The proposed improvements would use 5-6 feet of this width leaving 6-7 feet for the pedestrian access route if additional width for pedestrians is not provided.
Here are six more photos of the area in front of the Scriver Building.
I’m trying to understand the rationale for the removal of the trees since ADA standards would still be met after the ramp was built.
Update July 29 7:05 am: photo of the access at the Holland Block at 5th and Division:
After a presentation at the Council meeting by NHS Executive Director Hayes Scriven and SMSQ architect Steve Wilmot, much of the Council discussion was about the removal of the trees. It ultimately voted 6-1 (Pokorney opposed) to approve the resolution to begin negotiations for the right-of-way (ROW). Here’s the video of the discussion:
Ray Jacobson and I will be on hand to answer any questions about the making of the film and the Harvest sculpture. A reception will follow the show. The documentary is an hour in length.
But there are a couple of keepers in the batch like the one of Chip DeMann with his registration table work crew and the one of NHS ED Hayes Scriven with his wife Jenny and his parents, Sue and Mark Scriven.
Griff Wigley: Kiffi, City Administrator Tim Madigan explains the City’s ISO rating on KYMN’s show back on Dec. 7, 2011. The ISO rating doesn’t take into account many of the issues raised in Soldo’s report. The number of OSHA...
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kiffi summa: Our mothers consider the ‘bunched panties’ remark too squalid to pass either their sainted lips, or those of their darling daughters… and seriously doubt whether it was said during your father’s time!
Jane Moline: Griff: you really didn’t know my mother and how do you even know if I wear panties?
Vicki Dilley: How many lives can we even begin to count that have touched by the Youth Exchange program? Northfield has been involved in Youth Exchange since 1969 when we hosted our first student…since then 100′s of High School...
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john george: Kathie- I knew I was sticking my neck out on that one!
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Susan Hvistendahl: I totally agree with you re the need for more beaches in Northfield, having just returned from a week in Puerto Vallarta. Could have had rum punches there but….well, after we visited a local tequila distillery and got to...
Bright Spencer: Oh, you both look so happy! Thanks for sharing. More pics please!
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Bright Spencer: i’ve been looking thru a site, crazyguyonabike.com that has lots of journals and photos from around the world.
jane fenton: Congrats, Griff! That’s my son Cliff in the orange hat. He’s revamped the recycling bin prototype. You should see it!
Griff Wigley: Don, I’ll keep ping pong in mind. I’d hate to have my right arm start to whither from a lack of racquetball. In the meantime, I’m trying to excite as many Northfielders as I can about mountain biking. I’ll...
john george: Griff- Iris will have to work real hard to keep you in focus on everything else. I shutter to think where this could go.
Griff Wigley: Name: The Local Joint Description: A handmade and vintage collective in Northfield, MN. COLLECTING.CREATING.COLLABORAT ING. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheLoc alJoint Nfld News: Store to open in former ‘digs’ space
David Beimers: Hmmm… fans? air conditioners? ice cream?
Jessica Paxton: I know. But I don’t wanna spill the (cool) beans!
Megan Tsui: Edward, Sorry you weren’t able to attend. We’ll be posting notes from the meeting on the NEC website and if you send me your email, I’ll make sure you get a copy! If you (or anyone else!) would like to chat about it...
Edward Smith: I wanted to attend this, but was unable. Does anyone know if there will be a summary posted anywhere?
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Griff Wigley: Nfld News editorial: Keep the current ward system intact
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Megan Tsui: Griff, The NEC is moving forward with the idea of a non-profit Coworking Incubator/Accelerator space. Megan
Megan Tsui: What do you think? Come to the Community Dialogue and tell us! January 31st from 2 to 4 pm at the Archer House lower level conference room. Share your ideas, thoughts, and dreams about a Coworking Incubator/Accelerator space in...
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